Verizon FiOS Network Earns Innovation Award From Telephony Magazine and New Paradigm Resources Group

CHICAGO - Verizon's all-fiber FiOS network has been recognized as one of the most innovative broadband advances in the industry.

Verizon received a Communicators Innovators Award for Most Innovative Broadband Access Package, one of four awards presented by Telephony magazine and New Paradigm Resources Group (NPRG) Tuesday evening (June 19) at their first Spring Leadership Forum, which was held in conjunction with the NXTcomm conference here.

"Since we launched construction of our fiber-to-the-home network in 2004, the response from our customers has been enthusiastic," said Paul Tassinari, Verizon vice president-network engineering.  "It's now terrific to see this type of recognition within the industry."

Tassinari accepted the award on behalf of Verizon and participated in a panel discussion with the three other award winners.

"NPRG and we at Telephony magazine felt that FiOS was a strong example of launching a new broadband infrastructure and services with an eye on innovation, reliability and applications that customers want to use," said Telephony Editor-in-Chief Dan O'Shea in announcing the award.

Verizon is the only major telecom company deploying fiber to the home on a mass scale to deliver its industry-leading FiOS Internet and FiOS TV products.  The company's new network already passes more than 6 million homes in 16 states.

FiOS Internet offers Internet access speeds up to 50 Mbps (megabits per second) downstream and up to 5 Mbps upstream.  FiOS TV offers more than 300 all-digital channels, more HD TV channels than most competitors and more than 8,600 video-on-demand titles.

"Our all-fiber network and industry-leading FiOS products are helping to pave the way for a new wave of innovation in our industry, opening the doors for a wide range of new developments from many others in the industry - including equipment suppliers," Tassinari said.

New Paradigm Resources Group Inc. is a leading strategic consulting and research company for innovators within the communications industry, and Penton Media's Telephony magazine is a leading information resource for telecom service providers.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving 60.7 million customers nationwide.  Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon has a diverse workforce of more than 238,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $88 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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